Canada AM
February 9, 1998
Interview with Dan Matheson

MATHESON: The NHL Top Prospects Game takes place tomorrow at Maple Leaf Gardens and it will provide a pretty good opportunity to take a look at the next generation of the guys who are going to star in the National Hockey League. Forty of the top-ranked junior players will be showcasing their talents and they are coached by hockey celebrities Don Cherry and Bobby Orr. Now, with more on this we are joined by David Legwand. He's a rookie centre with the OHL's Plymouth Whalers. We're also joined by Bryan Allen, defenceman from the Oshawa Generals. He's ranked fifth, David is ranked second as we speak.

Good morning to you both.

BOTH: Good morning.

MATHESON: You guys pretty excited about this game? Is it a big deal for you, David?

LEGWAND: Yeah, it's a big deal. You want to go out and have fun and do well for yourself and hopefully everyone can have a good time.

MATHESON: Well, you know that any time out the scouts could be watching. Is this game any special [sic] because there are so many more there?

ALLEN: Oh, for sure. At any game you play in there's going to be the odd scout but this game there's going to be every scout from every team there.

MATHESON: And in a lot of all-star games -- I don't know if you watched the NBA all-star game, there was no defence at all yesterday. But in this game can you leave any of your game in the dressing room or do you have to bring it all out on the ice?

LEGWAND: I think you have to bring it all out. I think it will be a hard-fought game. There will probably be some hitting and hopefully it will be a good-played game.

MATHESON: "Probably" there will be some decent hitting? [laughter]

LEGWAND: Yeah.

MATHESON: Now, you're a defenceman. Come on, tell me a little more specifically: will there or won't there?

LEGWAND: I think there will, because some guys will want to prove themselves. If they're hitters they'll hit and if they're scorers they'll score. I think it should be a good all-around game.

MATHESON: Does it matter to you where you're ranked?

ALLEN: Sure it matters where you're ranked but you don't really think about that. You just try to raise your stock every time you play the game.

MATHESON: And how do you do that?

ALLEN: Just by playing your game and playing the way you can be. Like David said, if you're a hitter you've got to be hitting, if you're a goal scorer you've got to score.

MATHESON: Has anyone talked to you about what it's worth to you to be drafted fourth instead of fifth, or one instead of second?

LEGWAND: I just think it's the thrill of being drafted. Even if you're drafted in the first round or fifth round I think it's just the thrill of having a shot at playing in the NHL.

MATHESON: Well, number two is a heck of a deal. To be ranked second overall is a heck of a deal, huh? It must make you feel good.

LEGWAND: Yeah, you try not to think about it but sometimes it always pops up in your mind. But you try to keep it in the back of your head until June comes around.

MATHESON: Yeah, the draft's in Buffalo in June this year. Will you both be there?

BOTH: Yeah.

MATHESON: Can you move up dramatically between now and June, can you make any kind of a big leap? Could you do it with one game? Could you do it tomorrow?

ALLEN: No, I don't think so. It doesn't take one game. It's just over a matter of time.

MATHESON: Why junior hockey? For the last 15 years in this country we've talked a lot about: what do you do if you're a really good hockey player? Do you stay in junior in Canada? Do you go to the US college system which is pretty well-developed? And at one time a lot of the top players were going to US colleges. Now, you're from the States.

LEGWAND: Yes.

MATHESON: You've picked junior hockey. Why would that be, David? LEGWAND: Because Plymouth is in my own backyard. I live half an hour away from the rink. And I had a choice between Michigan or Michigan State but I chose -- it's proven it's the quickest way to the NHL and it's worked out so far for me.

MATHESON: Now, you know they can trade you. You've heard of this, huh?

LEGWAND: Yeah.

MATHESON: There's no guarantee you're going to get to play in your own backyard.

LEGWAND: Yeah. I think --

MATHESON: If you couldn't play in Plymouth would have that had been a factor?

LEGWAND: It would have been a little bit of a factor but I think I still would have tried junior hockey just because of the proven facts in how fast guys make it to the NHL. But I think I made the right decision with what I chose.

MATHESON: Is that your feeling too?

ALLEN: Yeah, I think I made the right decision too. Like David said, it is the fastest way and if you want to take the long route and get the background and get your schooling done first -- but I think this is the fastest way.

MATHESON: At what point do you decide that hockey is what you do and is what you're going to do? I mean, maybe when you're ranked in the top ten you can decide that. What if you're ranked twentieth? You know, is there a time when you're a little wishy- washy on this thing, you don't know if you're good enough?

ALLEN: I don't think it really matters. There's guys who have gone in the fifth round and still played in the NHL and had a successful career. So I think you shouldn't give up on your career just because you're rated fourth round or something. You should always strive to play there.

MATHESON: How long have you wanted to be a hockey player? When did you decide that you were going to be a hockey player?

LEGWAND: Ever since I was eight or nine and I started skating. It was just the thrill of the game and whatever. I just loved the game for everything it was.

MATHESON: It's not a bad game, is it?

BOTH: No.

MATHESON: Good luck tomorrow night, guys. Nice meeting you.

BOTH: Thanks.



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